Family Of Ex-NFLer Sues Oakland Police Over His Death

OAKLAND, CA — The family of late ex-NFL running back Doug Martin has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Oakland, several officers and an ambulance company, accusing them of not providing the 36-year-old with timely medical care while he was experiencing a mental health crisis last year.

Martin died after a struggle with police in Oakland on Oct. 18, 2025. His parents in the lawsuit claim Martin died of "restraint asphyxia" after four Oakland police officers pinned him to the ground as they responded to reports of a break-in at the 11000 block of Ettrick Street.

Martin stopped breathing afterward, and paramedics with the ambulance company Falck failed to give him aid promptly, according to the lawsuit.

The City of Oakland and Falck did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

Martin had been struggling with his mental health at the time of his death, his family said back in October.

In the months before he died, he was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold after experiencing substance-induced psychosis and got into a fight with deputies at a drug rehab center in Castro Valley, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

His parents were trying to get him medical assistance in the hours before his death and called authorities for support, according to a statement back in Octoeber by Brian Murphy, Martin's former agent.

But Martin, feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, left his Oakland home, according to the statement. He then entered a neighbor's home two doors down, his family said.

Police were called to the neighbor's home in the 11000 block of Ettrick Street around 4:15 a.m. There, they tried to detain Martin, and after a brief struggle, were able to take him into custody, the Oakland Police Department said Monday.

Martin became unresponsive soon after, and he was taken to a local hospital where he died, police said.

Oakland police said back in December that they would not release the bodycam footage, but later parts of it.

Martin's parents are seeking damages, including wrongful death and loss of financial support.

Martin was born in Oakland and grew up in Stockton. After graduating from high school, he attended Boise State, where he became one of the “best running backs in school history,” according to the university.

He became the first Boise State running back to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and one of six overall, according to the university.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Martin with the 31st pick of the 2012 Draft. He was described in a scouting report as a “very savvy runner” with a polished all-around game.

Martin spent six seasons with the Buccaneers before ending his career with the Oakland Raiders.